Hot beverage dispenser



plil 28, 1959 i J. L. D. MORRISON 2,883,921

HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER A7' TORNE Y J. l.. D. MORRISON 2,883,921

HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER April 28, 1959 n 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 `Filed Deo. 1.1954 U 4 4 6 o @v Q2, 4 f ,H 6 \5 54/A Q -8 m 5 ..6 m3 :2J m...0 www M.v" 2 6T O D//o 0 0 4 v 0 :0U 3

INVENTOR. JAMES L. D. MORE/50N ATTORNEY April 28, 1959 J. L. D. MORRISON2,883,921

HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. l. 1954 INVENTOR.JAMES L. D. MORRISON d A7.'TORNEY' April 28, 1959 J. L. D. MORRISON HOTBEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed Deo.

11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zzgl/ll.;

JNVENTOR.- JAMES L. D. Mom/50N ATTORNEY April 28, 1959 J; L.. D. MQRRISN'2,883,921

HoT BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed Der:T l. 1954 11 Sheets-Sheet -5 JAMES L.D. MORRISON ATTORNEY April 28, 1959 J. D. MoRRl'sN 2,883,921v

HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER l Filed nec. v1. 1954 v 4 11 sheets-sheet sINVENTOR.

E. l I Y A TToR/VEY JA MES L. D. Mom/50N lApril 28, 1959 l.1. LbmoRRlsoN2,883,921

HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed Dec. 1. 1954 Y 11v Simms-sheet` 'rv IN VENTOR. JAMES L. DT MORR/.S ON

April 28, 1959 J. L. D. MoRRlsoN 2,883,921

HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed nec. 1. m54` 11` sheets-'sheet s F/G. 22/NvEA/r-OR.

JAMES L. D. MORRISON BY JW JM A T TQRNE Y April 28, 1959 J. D. MoRRlsNHOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 1. 1954 /N VE N TOR.JAMES L. D. MORRISON BY April 28, 1959 J. D. MORRISON 2,883,921

HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed Dec. 1. 1954 11 Sheets-sheet 1o INVENTOR.JAMES L. D. MORRISON du? EMME A T TORNE Y April 28, 1959 J. l.. D.MORRISON 2,883,921

HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed DSC. .1. 1954 1l Sheets-Sheet 11 /N VENTOR.

JAMES L. D. MORRISON @y d My@ A T TORNE Y United States Patent 2,883,921l Hor BEVERAGE DISPENSER James L. D. Morrison, Benton Harbor, Mich.Application December 1, 1954, Serial No. 472,442

Claims. (Cl. 99--275) This is a continuation-impart of applicationSerial No. 464,122, filed October 22, 1954 now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to a hot beverage dispenser, and moreparticularly to a home appliance for automatically making and dispensinghot beverages in measured quantities.

The principal deciency of devices for automatically dispensingv hot4beverages has been their bulkiness and complexity. Many of thesedevices require extensive servicing and are costly both to manufactureand to operate. None of these, devices with which I am acquainted wouldbe feasible .for home appliance application.

It is one of the primel objects of the invention to obtain for regularhome usage a compact and low cost beverage dispenser which will functionautomatically to provide individual servings of hot beverage with thegreatest possible convenience.

An additional object of the invention is that the appliance shallsuccessively make andy dispense, cup-by-cup, a freshly brewed beveragewhich is made just prior to its dispensing.

A further object of the invention is to obtain an appliance of the typedescribed which is easily portable, simple to service and quick inoperation.

From another standpoint, it is my objective to obtain a means wherebybeverage ingredients can be sanitarily stored (in quantity) forrelatively long periods of time within the appliance. Along with thisobjective, it is my further object to so store and operate the appliancethat the stored ingredients will not be substantially affected byappliance operation.

Toy the accomplishment o-f the above and relatedi objects, my inventionmay be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called tothe fact, however, ythat the drawings areillustrative only, and that specic change may be made in the specificconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

Additional features of the invention will become apparent during thefollowing description, wherein reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the appliance with a portion cf thecabinet and reservoir broken away to showA the storage and operatingmechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the appliance with a portion of the cabinetbroken awayy to show the mounting frame for the operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view/ of the appliance with the cabinet removed toshow the operating mechanism, which is in a neutral or deactuatedcondition;

Figs. 4 andv 5 are detail views of the switch-and-Valve operatingmechanism shown in closed and open positions, respectively;

Fig. 6 is a sectional viewv taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7v isa detail view of the linkage usedl in dispensing an ingredientof the beverage;

lee

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an exploded view of a two-way valve assembly controllingliquid ow in the appliance;

Figs. 10 and 11 show the two operating positions of the two-way valveassembly controlling liquid ow;

Figs. l2 and 13 are detail views, respectively showing the applyinglever and other operating mechanism com'- ponents in a neutral or olfposition, and in an actuated or on position, respectively;

Figs. 14 and 15 show in detail the top and front views of a bell crankserving both to lock and deactuate the operating mechanism;

Fig. 16 is an exploded view of the storage and metering means for aningredient of the beverage;

Fig. 17 is a top view of the assembled storage means with the capremoved;

Fig. 18 shows the same view as Fig. 17 but with the metering cylinderrotated slightly;

Fig. 19 is the same view as Fig. 18 but with the top plate completelyremoved;

Fig. 20 shows the metering cylinder rotatedv slightly further from itsposition in Fig. 19, so that apertures therein align with apertures inthe bottom of the storing cup;

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of Fig. l with the cover and storing cupremoved;

Fig. 22 is a sectional illustration of another embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken on section lines 23-23 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the slide plate;

Fig. 25 is a bottom view of the oat;

Figs. 26` and 27 are sectional view's of two different positions of thefloat;

Fig. 28 is a plan view of the undersidel of the actuating cover;

Fig. 29 illustrates the pawl in detail;

Figs. 30 and 31 are plan views of the metering ring and top plate; v

Fig. 32 is a separate View of the cover spring; and

Fig. 33 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of thisinvention.

The appliance, indicated generally by reference numeral 10 in Fig. l',appears exteriorly as a cabinet 12 with a superposed liquid reservoir 14having a removable lid 16. The cabinet has a recessed portion' 18 (Fig.2) within which a receptacle 2.0 (cup or the like) is placed forreceiving. the dispensed beverage.

Interiorly of the appliance there is providedy a storage cup 22 for abeverage ingredient (powdered coiee, tea, et cetera). A metering deviceis located within the cup 22, as will be explained more fully later inthis description.

Intermediate the reservoir 14 and cabinet 12 is alleating chamber 26into which ilows a fixed amount ofliquid from the reservoir 14 through atwo-way valve 28I (See Figs. l0 and 11.)

Within thel cabinet 12 there is located a frame 30 on which are` mountedthe components of an operatingm'echanism which will next be described.

Operating lever 32 is pivotally secured at one end to frame 30, and isswung downwardly by pressing on handle 34 to initiate a beverage makingand' dispensing cycle. The lever 32 engages a cam 36 on ratchet wheel38, causing the ratchet wheel to rotate against the resistance of spring40. Pawl 42' prevents" counter-rotation of the ratchet wheel until thehandle 34v is` completely depressed. The pawl and ratchet teeth are sodesigned as to permity uninhibited rotation of wheel 38 in, first, acounterclockwise direction until pawl 42 enters a deep notch 43,whereupon clockwise rotation of thev wheel' shifts'the pawl si that itwill slide over the ratchet teeth to permit the a cycle of operation isstarted,'it must be carried through to completion. As best seen in Figs.12 and 13, a locking bar 44 pivots on operating lever 32 at one end andslides in a slot in the frame at the other end, to assume a positionholding the lever 32 downwardly when the lever is fully depressed, asshown in Fig. 13.

Referring to Figs. 2, 14 and l5, bell crank 46 prevents downward movmentof the lever 32 by locking engagement with a tooth 48 on the lever 32(see Fig. 12), unless areceptacle 20 is inserted in cabinet recess 18(Fig. 2) to rotate the bell crank 46 out of locking engagement bycontacting a depending tab 50.

As the ratchet wheel 38 is rotated by the lever 32, slide bar 52, whichis pivotally connected at its end to the ratchet wheel (Fig. 7) is casedto move toward the left. This movement of the slide bar is guided in aslot 54 in the frame 30. The slide bar 52 at its left-hand end carries astepped orratchet connection 58 which is engageable with an up-turnedflange on the left end of the drag link 56 andy draws the drag linktherewith (toward the left). The drag link 56 acting through a rotarylink 62 produces turning of pintle 60. When the slide bar 52 is cammeddownwardly in Fig. 7 by the left-hand end of the slot 54, it disengageswith drag link S6 which is retracted by a spring 64. It will be notedthat drag link movement is confined to reciprocable movement because ofsliding engagement with a struck up frame portion 65 of the frame 30.The pintle 60 is thus rotationally rocked back and forth in the uprightstationary post 66. A nib 68 on the pintle 60 engages with a keyway 70(Fig. 16) in metering cylinder 72 to rock the cylinder in conformitywith movement of pintle 60 and slide bar 52. This action of the meteringcylinder 72 serves to discharge a preferred amount of a beverageingredient from the storage cup 22 into the heating chamber 26.

The storage. cup 22 (Fig. 16) has openings 76 at the bottom thereofwhich registered with holes 77 (Fig. 21)

in the base of the reservoir 14 opening into the heating chamber 26.Metering cylinder 72 is snugly fitted into the cup 22 and is turnabletherein on post 66. Top plate 78 having nibs 80 is then iitted over thetop of the metering cylinder. .The nibs 80 are received in slots formedin the inner wall of the cup to prevent turning of the top plate withthe metering cylinder. A seal 82 and cap 84 which is threadedly receivedon top of post 66 make the storage cup airtight.

The top plate 78 closes graduated apertures 87 in the metering cylinder72 when the operating mechanism is in a neutral or o position, as shownin Fig. 17. When the metering cylinder 72 is turned sutiiciently, twodiametral apertures 87 are brought into alignment with apertures 88 inthe top plate. Beverage ingredient in cup 22 on top of plate 78 then llsthe aligned apertures in the metering cylinder when they are positionedas indicated in Fig. 18. The relative position of the metering cylinder72 y and cup 22 at this stage is indicated in Fig. 19 wherein top plate78 is removed for clarity. Further movement of the metering cylinderaligns apertures 87 with openings 76 in the bottom of the cup 22, whichregister with holes 77 leading into the heating chamber 26. As themetering cylinder apertures 87 and openings 76 are brought intoalignment, beverage ingredient drops into the heating chamber 26.

The amount of beverage ingredient which is introduced to the heatingchamber 26 depends upon the extent of turning of the metering cylinder,which is governed by the extent of shifting of the drag link 56 (Figs. 7and 8). The distance of drag link movement can be regulated bycontrolling the location of engagement between stepped connection 58 anddrag link 56. This location can be varied by operation of a controlwheel 90 (see Fig. 3), as is explained in further detail hereinafter.

A determinate amount of the liquid portion of the beverage flows fromthe reservoir 14 into the heating chamber 26 when the two-way valve4 28is positioned as indicated in Fig. 10. This is the position of the valvewhen the operating mechanism is 011, or de-,actuated The two-way valve28 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced sets of indentations 92and 93 which do not extend across the entire width of the valve. Thevalve is mounted in nozzle 94 and is turnable thereiri'bya crank 96which in one position (Fig. 10) registers the indentations 92 withopenings 97 in the nozzle, permitting uid ow in the direction indicatedby the arrows in Fig. 10. The valve is turned to a second position bythe crank 96 wherein indentations 93 register with openings 97, thusdischarging the contents of the heating pan through the nozzle 94 (Fig.11), as indicated by the arrow.

The crank 96 position and hence the valve position is controlled byabutting engagement with operating member 98 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). Whenthe appliance is in an orf or neutral position, shown in Fig. 3, theratchet wheel 38 is turned by the spring 40 to a position wherein alaterally extending cam 100 on the ratchet wheel 38 engages a dependingarm 101 of the crank 96, turning it against the tension of spring 102`sothat the valve is positioned as shown in Fig. 10. When the ratchet wheel38 is turned so that cam 100 disengages With the depending arm 101 ofthe crank 96, the spring 102 turns the crank slightly so that thedepending arm 101 then bears against tooth 103 on member 98, and movesmember 98 toward the right against the resistance of spring 104 (Fig'.4). This movement of member 98 operates switch 106 which controls aconventional resistive heat element in the bottom of the heating chamberZ6.

Reciprocable movement of member 98 is permitted because elongatedopening 108 in the member 98 slides over a fixed pin 110 and abutsthereagainst after the switch is operated but before the crank 96 hasturned the valve to the dispensing position shown in Fig. l1. The crankis held in the position shown in Fig. 4 against the resistance of springl102.

A bimetal lever 112 is secured to the underside of the heating chamber26 and is responsive to the temperature developed in the heating chamber26. As the temperature rises, the bimetal curls away from the undersideof thc heating chamber and bears against a lever 114, causing turningthereof about pivot 116. This is best seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The lever114 engages a curved arm 118 of member 98 causing it to pivot clockwiseon the pin 110. Pivoting of member 98 on the pin 110 disengages thetooth 103 and the depending arm 101 of the crank, thus permitting the'spring 102 to turn the crank 96 counterclockwise which moves the valveto the dispensing or openV position shown in Fig. l1. The crank-spring162 pulls the crank 96 to a point where the depending leg 101 engages aside of slot 120 formed in the frame 30.

It is possible to control the temperature at which the bimetal -caneffect disengagement of the tooth 103 and crank 96, by suitablytensioning spring 122 with a control wheel 124. It will be seen thatspring 122 opposes turning of member 98 about pin 110 to disengage tooth103 and crank 96. v By selecting the tension force of spring 122, it ispossible to govern 'the temperature at which bimetal operationcandisengage the crank 96 and tooth 103 to operate the valve to adispensing position.

After the hot beverage has been dispensed through the nozzle 94 intoreceptacle 20, the receptacle 20 is removed, permitting spring 126 (Fig.14) to return bell isaiasi crank -46 toitsoriginal'position('shownl'inffulllines, Fig. 14). When the bell c`rank1'46 returns toitsvoriginal position, one'arm thereoforcibly-strikesend portion 128(Fig. 13) of locking b ar 44, moving it `toward the left as lviewed inFig. 13. This'leftward'fmovement of portion 128 is opposed by spring130, but `the movement is `suicient to displace bar 44 from an offcenter orlocking position, thus permitting' thelspring '40 to return theratchet wheel 38 and operating lever'32 -to the positionv indicated inFig. l2. Theorie arm of the bell crank'46-ithen locks with the operatinglever tooth 4S (Fig.l 15).

A A4 short resume of the invention will-next be f givenby describing acomplete cycle Ofmaking and'dispensing'a hot 'cup of beverage, which isfollowed by'de-actuation ofi-the operating mechanism. p

Liquid from reservoir 14 passest-hrough the two-way valve'28I into theheating chamber2'6. Liquid I'isnorinally present in the heating chamberlwhentheappliance is 011. The heating chamber 26 is air-tight, iandpassage of 'a preferred amount of fluid into the chamber 2'6fcreatessuper-atmospheric pressure which -suppor'ts the hydrostatic head offluid in the reservoir, preventingvfurthel liquid ilow into the heatingchamber 26.

Receptacle (Fig. 2) is then placed' inthe recessed portion 18 of theappliance, where it bears againstl de pending tab 50, rotating the bellcrank`46 and disengaging the lock with operating lever 32 at point 48.

The handle'34 is next depressed, swingingthe lever 32 downwardly. Thehandle is heldin adepressed" position by the lock bar 444 and theoperation hereafter is com pletely automatic.

The downward swinging lof the ylever lfcausesy rotation of vthe` ratchetwheel 38 whichmoves the v'slide bar 52. The links 56 and 62 are causedto vmove with thel slide bar, which motion is translatedr into turningof the meteringcylinder 72 through the pintle 6ta-'andV piny 68 (Figg7).Theme/'tering cylinder is then returned to it'soriginal position byspring 64 (see Fig. 3) acting through'links 56fand 62, when the stepped'connection 58 disengages with drag link 56. The rocking movement `of'the'- rnetering cylinder delivers beverage ingredientfrom storage cup22 to heating chamber`26.

`Disengagement of cam 100 with valve crank 96 permits the spring loadedcrank to ybear against member 98 which moves suiiiciently to operateswitch 106 and close an electrical circuit for the heating elementcarried in heat-transferring relation to the bottom of theheatingchamber 26.

The heating chamber then beginsto warm thefbeverage ingredients whichhave been metered therein. The heatingl continues'until bimetal 112,which acts responsively to .the'temperature developed inthe heatingchamber 26, causes"A rotation of the member 98'disengaging` the springloaded! crank from the member 98. The crank 96 then moves to a newposition, turning two-way valve 28. The reservoir'and heating chamberare now isolated by closure of'valve 28, and the contents of the heatingchamber are discharged through the two-way valve 28 and nozzle 94 intothe receptacle 20.

'When the crank 96 and member 9S arel disengaged, the member 98 movesaway from switch`106` under the influence ofr spring 104. The heatingprocess is thus 'terminated.

4When the receptacle 20 is`removed, the belly crank '46 is caused toturn by spring 126, and one end thereof strikes lock bar 44 at endportion 128 (Fig. 13). The lock bar 44 is displaced suthciently from anoff center position to allow the lever 32 to move upwardly under theinfluence of spring 40 acting through ratchet vwheel 38 and' cam 36.

Theappliance is thus de-actuated by return of vall the mechanismcomponents to their original position when the'receptacle 20 (Fig. 2) isremoved.v 4

"The i appliance may-inclndea safetydevice"sothaf if 6 the reservoir -isempty lno `heating lian be `applied to lchar`nber'26. This safety"device'consistsofahoat 1132 which locks the crank 96 in the position shown inFig. 3, unless thereV is suicient water in the reservoir`14. `Lo`ck ingof the crank 96 in thisl position 'prevents 'operation ot` switch 106. y

l do not regard the particular'relative'locations of reservoir andheatingchamber as essential to the invention. Instead of locating thesetwoportionsof the'appliance as shown, it would bel possible to' separate'them and have conduit interconnection or other suitable means fordelivering liquid from thereseryoir4 vto the heating chamber. Thisyseparated heatingI chamber' preferably is designed to acceptonly asingle cup 'of waterwith a suitable floating-type Vvalve severingcommunication between this heating chamber and thereservoir when thechamberl is filled. l

Instead of arranging the 'rr1'echai'iism such that `lthe mixture ofpowdered coffee, forexamplefand liquid are. both mixed and heated in thesame chamber 2,6, itis desirable in alternative arrangements ,"to`utilizetwo sepa:v

rated chambers similar to chamber`26` whichare suitably connected forytransferring thecontents ofone chamber tothe other. Theli'qu'idreservoir, in this arrangement, is in operative communication with onechamber which is of such size as to accept only ameasured quantity ofliquid. `This chamber is heated by any'suitable means to raise thetemperature of the measured liquida suitable amount, after which theheated contents are discharged into the second or mixing chamber. `Thepowdered coffee is directly discharged from the vcontainer '22 intothissecond or mixing chamber, to be combined with ythe iheated liquid fromthe heating chamber. A suitable valve isy interposed between the heatingand vmixingcl'iainbers for controlling communication therebetween. y

The foregoing described arrangement is specifically illustrated in Fig.33' wherein like referencenumerals will indicate like parts. In`addition to the reservoirv 14, there is a mixing Vchamber 300therebene'ath into whichl the metering device 22"emp'ties. A measuredamount of powdered colee, for example, is' indicated by the referencenumeral 302. Inside of the mixing chamber 300is a closed compartment orchamber 304 which is the heating and measuring chamber for the liquid.This chamber is formedl to a predetermined size, for example, equal 'toa single cup, and has an opening 306 Vcor'r'n'n'unicating with theinterior of the reservoir 14. It is also provided with a dischargeopening 308 for emptying the contents into the mixing chamber 300. Themixing chamber 300 has a ydischarge outlet 310. A ow control valve 312is'provided with upper and lower valve members 314 and 316,respectively, for controlling the opening and closing of the two ports306 and1308. `A` suitableiste'm'318 secures these valvemembers L314 and316 in properly'sp'aced relation. A control rod 320 in engagement withthe upper side of the valve member 314 4carries a suitable "pushbutton322, as shown. A helical spring324` bears against Ia retaining ring onthe stem 318 to normally urge thevalve 312 to its full l-ine position.Thus, liquid in the reservoir 14 will completely ill the heating andmeasuring chamber 304. Suitable heating coils 326 are utilized to heatthe contents of this chamber 304. l

In operation, the metering device 2 2 is 'operated to'dischargeafmeasured quantity of ingredient 302 intothe mixing chamber 300. Theheating coils 326 are energized to heat the liquid in the chamber 304.`When the liquid is heated, the push-button 322 is manually depressed todischarge the contents of the chamber 304 intovthe mixing chamber 300.The heated liquid mixes lwith the powdered ingredient 302 and thereafteris discharged through the outlet 310 into the indicated cup 328. Whenthe push-button 322 is depressed, the inlet port 306 is closed and theoutlet port 308 is opened as illustrated by the dashed lineconfiguration. This prevents cold liquid in the chamber 14 from droppingthrough to them'ixing 7 chamber 300. Preferably, the bottom of thechamber 300 1s lnclined to insure discharge of all of the contents fromthe outlet 310.

While the mechanism of the embodiment of Fig. 1 for automaticallyoperating the various components are not shown in this Fig. 33, it willbe obvious to a person skilled in the art that such mechanism may beeasily adapted within the skill of the art.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood that the appliancecorresponds to the conventional home bread toaster in the respect thatit supplies, automatically, a singular quantity of food (beverage) foreach cycle of operation. The appliance may be placed on a table, hotcoffee, tea or the like dispensed cup-by-cup, according to demand.Currently available heating elements serve to heat a cup of coffee inforty-five (45) seconds. The beverage is thus freshly brewed and isconstantly available so long as the reservoir 14 and cup 22 containingredients. There is no wastage of brewed beverage, since only theexact amount desired is dispensed.

An alternative design and method to the one hereinabove disclosedcomprises a heat-pump type of coffeemaker which delivers hot water indesired quantity to a mixing chamber. A coffee-powder metering mechanismsupplies a measured quantity of powder to the mixing chamber whereuponthe mixture is ready for dispensing. One primary difference of thisalternative arrangement is that mixing of the ingredient occurs afterthe water is heated, whereas the illustrated embodiment comprehendsmixing prior to heating.

This alternative design is more specifically illustrated in Figs. 22through 32, Which will now be described in detail.

The ingredient measuring mechanism indicated generally by the referencenumeral 140 is substantially identical in construction to the mechanism22 of the preceding embodiment as illustrated in Figs. 16 through 20.Therefore, this mechanism 140 need not be described in detail.

Referring to Fig. 22 in particular, the mechanism 140 seats in the upperend of a reservoir or pot 142 and carries a top plate or closure 144which is specifically shown in plan view in Fig. 31. The meteringcylinder 182 is mounted for rotation inside the top plate 144 and hasits upper end provided with ratchet teeth 146.

Superposed on the cover plate 144 is a metering ring 148 which is shownin detail in Fig. 30. This ring 148 has a depending flange 150 on itsouter periphery which is disposed adjacent the outer periphery of themeasuring container 152. This ring 148 -is provided with threecircumferentially arranged arcuate slots 154 which slidably receivesuitable studs or rivets 156 iixedly secured to the top plate 144. Thering 148 may thereby be circumferentially moved with respect to the topplate 144.

Superposed on the ring 148 -is an actuating cover 158 which carriesthree circumferentially arranged studs 160 for slidable reception bythree circumferentially arranged arcuate slots 162 in the top plate 144.This cover 158 is thereby movable circumferentially with respect to boththe top plate 144 and the metering ring 148. A coiled spring 164 hasoppositely extending ends 166 and 168 which tit into companion notchesor openings in the top plate 144 and cover 158, respectively. Thisspring is preformed to urge the cover 158 counterclockwise with respectto the stationary top plate 144 (see Fig. 23). An actuating shaft 170having a square tip for being keyed to the cover 158 depends coaxiallythrough the measuring mechanism 148 and is provided at its lower endwith an eccentric pin 172. Thus, rotation of the cover 158 will causecorresponding movement of the eccentric pin 172.

A pawl 174 (Fig. 29) is pivotably mounted on one of the rivets 160 forcooperative engagement with the metering cylinder ratchet teeth 146.This pawl is crank-shaped with the actuating arm 176 being slidablyengageable with the inner periphery 178 of the metering ring 148.

As will be seen more clearly in Fig. 30, this inner periphery 178 isformed with two different curvatures 179 and 181 joined by a cam surface180 which serves in moving the pawl 174 into or out of engagement withthe ratchet teeth 146 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The metering cylinder 182 is rotatably mounted on the center shaft andis of substantially the same construction as the metering cylinder 72previously described. The cylinder openings 184 and the companionmechanism openings 186 and 188 are substantially identical to` the parts87, 88 and 76, respectively, of the mechanism of Fig. 16. Thus, measuredamounts of ingredient contained in the storage cup 152 may be dischargedby the mechanism through the opening 188 as determined by the degree ofrotation of the metering cylinder 182, as has been previously explained.

Slidably mounted on the bottom of the storage cupl 152 is a slide plate190 which is shown in plan view in Fig. 24. Suitable rivets 192 and 194passing through elongated slots in the slide plate 198 are fastened bysome suitable means to the bottom of the cup 152, whereupon the platemay be reciprocated a distance depending upon the length of these slots.A suitable preformed return spring 196 is connected between the slideplate 190 and the cup 152 or some other stationary part of the mechanismfor biasing the slide plate toward the left as viewed in Figs. 22 and24.

The eccentric pin 172 on the center shaft 170 projects through atransverse slot 198 in the slide plate 190 and serves to reciprocate theslide plate when the center shaft 170 is rotated.

One of the rivets 192 secured to the underside of the cup 152 looselycarries for swinging movement a buoyant float 200. This float, as shownmore clearly in Figs. 25, 26 and 27, is composed of a supporting arm 282which is bent at a slight angle and which is provided with a hook 204 onone end. This hook 204 is engage-4 able with the rear transverse edge286 of the slide plate 190.

204 rises to engage the rear edge 206, as illustrated in Figs. 22 and27. If the float is lifted to disengage the hook 204, the slide plate190 may be slid rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 26. The float 200 ispositioned inside a liquid container or mixing chamber 208 having apouring spout 210.

Mounted in the handle 212 is a lever 214 pivoted intermediate its endsby means of a pin 216 carried by the handle 212. The upper arm of thislever 214 is operatively engageable by the forward end 218 of the slideplate 190. The lower arm is connected by means of an operating wire orlink 220 to an electrical switch 222 of conventional design. Thiselectrical switch is suitably connected in an electrical circuit forapplying power to the usual heating coils 224 which surround a waterheating chamber 226. heating chamber 226 from the upper portion of thereservoir 142 and carries a suitable number of supply orifices 230feeding into the heating chamber 226. Thus, chamber 226 is supplied withwater or other liquid at a suitable rate by means of orifices 230.

A coaxial supply tube 232 connects between the upper in the storage cup152, and water in the reservoir 142.., The metering ring 148 iscircumferentially moved on the top plate 144 by means of the dependingflange 150 to a desired position which determines the amount of powderedcoffee which will be measured into the mixing Thus, when the slide plateis moved forwardly to an actuated position, the oat 200 drops and thehookv A partition 228 separates thisl chamber 208 by the meteringcylinder 182. Assuming a random position of the metering ring 148, thecover 158 is slowly rotated clockwise, whereby the pawl 174 engages theratchet teeth 146 and rotates the metering cylinder 182 therewith. Thepawl arm 176 rides on the inner peripheiy 178 of the stationary meteringring 148 and eventually rides over the cam surface 180. The sequence ofcam movement is from the larger diameter ring surface 179 over the camsurface 180 and onto the smaller diameter surface 181. When the pawl arm1'76 moves onto 'the surface 181, it is swung counterclockwise, asviewed in Figs'. 23 and 29, whereby the pawl 174 is disengaged from theratchetV teeth '146.- At" this moment', the meteringcylinder 182` isvstopped from rotating even though rotation of the cover 158 may becontinued. With this rotary movement 'of the cover 158, the eccentric172 moves the slide plate 190 'toward the right (Fig. 22) to swing thelever 214 'clockwise'for actuating the switch 222. Simultaneously, theoat 200 drops to lock the slide plate 190 kin this position. The heatingcoils 224 are energized and water in -the chamber 226 is'A almostinstantaneously raised to boiling. This boiling liquid levitates throughthe discharge tubel 232 and into the mixing chamber 208 until thischamber fills to a point which raises oat 200 suiiciently to disengagethe hook 204 from the slide plate` 190i When this happens, the returnspring 196 as well as the cover spring 164 moves the slide plate 190rearwardly (to the left), thereby moving the lever 214 counterclockwisefor deactuating switch 222. The heating coils 224 are thereby turned-oif and no more water will be heated and transmitted to the mixingchamber 208. Water is supplied constantly tothe chamber 226 through theorifices 230.

Since the powdered coiee was previously metered into the mixing chamber208 by rotation of the cover 158, it will mix with the heated water,thereby completing a coiee-making operation.

The mixed conce may thereafter be poured' from the spout 210.

As in the case of the first embodiment herein described, thisalternative design automatically provides a single cup of coffee uponmanipulation of the actuating cover 158.

As will now be apparent from the preceding, the beverage ingredient maybe in either powder, liquid or pellet form. The metering devices 72 and140 would, of course, have to be sealed against leakage if a liquidingredient were used. Furthermore, the ingredient and liquid may bemixed prior to heating or subsequent to heating, or the liquid can beheated and then mixed with the ingredient, as explained previously.

Although a number of embodiments of the invention have been disclosed,it is apparent that the principles of the invention are susceptible ofnumerous applications. I intend, therefore, to include within the scopeof the following claims all equivalent devices by which the same orequivalent results may be obtained.

What is claimed is:

l. A hot beverage dispenser comprising a mixing chamber, a container forstoring ingredient, a metering dcvice connecting said container withsaid chamber, said metering device including means for delivering ameasured quantity of ingredient from said container to said mixingchamber upon actuation of said metering device, a reservoir for storinga supply of water, valve means operatively connecting said reservoir tosaid mixing chamber, a discharge port in said mixing chamber, said valvemeans being operatively connected to said port for selectivelycontrolling the opening and closing thereof, manually operable linkageoperatively connected to said valve means and to said metering devicefor controlling the operation thereof, said linkage being operablebetween two diterent positions, means provided in said linkage foropening said valve means between said reservoir and said chamber withoutactuating said metering device for one position of said linkage, meansfurther provided in saidl linkage for actuating said meteringdevlee 'andmaintaining said valve means open between y'said reservoir and saidchamber when said linkagev is moved to its other position, and heatresponsive mechanism opera'-` tively connected between said chamberandp'said" valve means for closing communication between said reservoirand said chamber and for opening said discharge port when thetemperature in said chamber lreaches a predetermined point. p

2. A hot beverage dispenser comprising a mixing' chamber, a containerfor storing ingredient, a .metering-de-r vice connecting said containerwith said chamber, saidv metering device including means for deliveringa'measnred quantity of ingredient from said container'to said mixingchamber upon actuation of said metering device, a reset" voir Vforstoring a supply of water, valve rmeans operatively connecting saidreservoir to said mixing chamber, a discharge port in said mixingchamber, said vvalve means being operatively connected to saidport forselectivelyk controlling the opening and closing thereof, manuallyoperable linkage operatively connected to Asaidvalvc means and to saidmetering device for controlling the: operation thereof, said linkagebeing operable between' two different positions, means provided in said'linkage for opening said valve means between said reservoir and saidchamber without actuating said metering-device 'for one position of saidlinkage, means further `provided in said linkage for actuating saidmetering device andr'nain taining said valve means open between said'reservoir and said chamber when said linkage is moved to its otherposition, heat responsive mechanism operatively' connected between saidchamber and said valve meansfor closing communication between saidreservoir and said chamber and for opening said discharge port' whenthe' temperature in said chamber reaches a predetermined point, amovable locking device having locking engagement with said linkage tohold the latter in said onev position, said locking device being movableout of locking engagement with said linkage to permit movementfof thelatter to said other position, and an element on said locking deviceadjacent said -discharge port which is operable to move said lockingdevice selectively into and out of locking engagement with said linkage.

3. A hot beverage dispenser comprising a mixing chamber, a container forstoring ingredient, a metering device connecting said container withsaid chamber, said metering device including means for delivering ameasured quantity of ingredient from said container to said mixingchamber upon actuation of said metering device, a reservoir for storinga supply of water, valve means operatively connecting said reservoir tosaid mixing chamber, a discharge port in said mixing chamber, said valvemeans being operatively connected to said port for selectivelycontrolling the opening and closing thereof, manually operable linkageoperatively connected to said valve means and to said metering devicefor controlling the operation thereof, said linkage being operablebetween two diierent positions, means provided in said linkage foropening said valve means between said reservoir and said chamber withoutactuating said metering device for one position of said linkage, meansfurther provided in said linkage for actuating said metering device andmaintaining said valve means open between said reservoir and saidchamber when said linkage is moved to its other position, heatresponsive mechanism operatively connected between said chamber and saidvalve means for closing communication between said reservoir and saidchamber and for opening said discharge port when the temperature in saidchamber reaches a predetermined point, a movable locking device havinglocking engagement with said linkage to hold the latter in said oneposition, said locking device being movable out of locking engagementwith said linkage to permit movement of the latter to said otherposition, an element on said locking device adjacent said discharge portwhich is operuredl quantity of ingredient from said container to saidmixingchamber upon actuation of said metering device, a reservoir -forstoring a supply of water, valve means operatively connecting saidreservoir to said mixing chamber, la dischargeport in said mixingchamber, said valve means being operatively connected to said port forselectively controlling the opening and closing thereof, a manuallyoperable lever movable ybetween two positions, mechanism operativelyconnecting said lever to said valve means to open said valve means'between said reservoir and said .chamber when said lever is in onevposition, linkage operatively connected between said lever and saidmetering device for actuating the latter when said lever is moved to itsother position, a movable element operatively connected to said valvemeans retaining the same openbetween said reservoir and said chamber,and heat responsive mechanism operatively connected to said movableelement actuating the latter to close said valve means between saidreservoir and said chamber and to open the discharge port.

5. A hot beverage dispenser comprising a mixing chamber, a container forstoring ingredient, a metering device connecting said container withsaid chamber, said metering device including means for delivering ameasured quantity of ingredient from said container to said mixingchamber upon actuation of said metering device, a reservoir for storinga supply of water, valve means operatively connecting said reservoir tosaid mixing chamber,

a discharge port in said mixing chamber, said valve means beingoperatively connected to said port for selectively controlling theopening and ,closing thereof, a manually operable 'lever movable@between two positions, mechanisrn openatively connecting said lever tosaid valve means to open said valve means 'between said reservoir andsaid chamber when said lever is in one position, linkage operativelyconnected between said lever and said metering device for actuating thelatter when said lever is moved to its other position, a movable elementoperatively connected to said valve means retaining the same openbetween said reservoir and said chamber, heat responsive mechanismoperatively connected to said movable element actuating the latter toclose said valve means between said reservoir and said chamber and toopen the discharge port, a second lever pivoted for movement into andout of locking engagement with the first mentioned lever, means normallyurging said second lever into locking engagement with said rst-mentionedlever when the latter is in said one position, and ran element on saidsecond lever disposed adjacent said discharge port and actuable to movesaid second lever into and out of said locking engagement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,668,540 McAllen May l, 1928 1,709,657 Clinton Apr. 16, 1929 2,114,063Stoner Apr. 12, 1938 2,149,270 Burgess Mar. 7, 1939 2,288,240 HermanJune 30, 1942 2,392,452 Baumann Jan. 8, 1946 2,569,820 Locke Oct. 2,1951 2,597,063 Catanzano May 20, 1952 2,615,384 Ranz Oct. 28, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS 289,689 Great Britain May 3, 1928 396,982 Great BritainAug. 17, 1933

